Our course facilitators

Meet some of our course facilitators. . .

Anthony Foster

My name is Anthony Foster and I have come from a senior finance executive background and worked in a variety of multicultural environments within Australia and overseas. 12 years ago I was diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety and stress and advised that I would never work again. This prompted me to find alternative ways in which I could recover my life. I explored philosophies from both East and West and became a Zen Mindfulness Student and then progressed to being a Mindfulness Master. I have taught thousands of people from all walks of life to learn and practice mindfulness. In recent years I have also studied Counseling, Case Management and Community Services and have now fully transitioned my life from the Business World, through depression and into a satisfying new career. I owe all this to Mindfulness Practices.

Anton Anagnostou

Anton Anagnostou is a Mental Health Worker and has been successfully awarded with the Certificate IV in Mental Health. His lived experience was a motivation for him to explore the field and contribute to the wellbeing of people. He believes that by changing the environment around us and our beliefs, new life and reality could emerge and come into being. His experience with spirituality inspired him to manifest his personal evolution and enjoy the journey to recovery from another perspective. In order to be able to provide a holistic approach to people, he has studied several courses including: Telephone Counselling, Facilitating Adult Learners, Providing e-mental health services, Alcohol & Other Drugs, Food & Nutrition.

Andreis Mision

Andreis Mision has had a diverse career ranging from technical writing to award-winning filmmaking, surviving the advertising industry and running his own business. Lived experience and recovery from mental health issues have allowed Andreis to assist fellow sufferers in the community with their own recovery journeys, leading to a recent career change as a mental health practitioner. Through the healing, empowering nature of recovery, self-education, and deeper understanding of the self, Andreis believes one is capable of turning life around into one of meaning, purpose and sincere gratitude for every single moment. From there all roads lead home.

Clare Andrews

Clare Andrews has a degree in Psychology and many years’ experience in community theatre. She has been exploring issues of how food can be medicine to assist her own recovery for some time now and is keen to share these ideas with others.

Janet Galer

Janet has worked as a trainer/assessor for the last ten years, delivering training to people from a wide range of backgrounds. Janet has qualifications in counselling and community work.

Linda Massa

Linda is currently working for Mind as an outreach Community Mental Health Practitioner with the ICSP program. She brings her knowledge of supporting clients with their recovery goals to the role. Linda has degrees in Social Work and Legal Studies. She believes that it is important for individuals to be given every opportunity to assist in their journey.

Maree McLellan

Maree McLellan holds a Certifivate IV in Mental Health and has a passion for sharing her valuable personal experience. ‘In the past’, Maree says, ‘my mental illness and my perception of it has acted as a barrier to achieving and trying out new things. I now believe that self-perception can be changed for the good.

Pierre Uri

Pierre is currently employed as a Community Mental Health Practitioner and Family Engagement Worker with Mind Australia. Pierre is passionate about developing capable role models in the community and improving the health and wellbeing of carers within a family context. Pierre has gained extensive experience assisting: young people recovering from a mental illness and carers who care for young people with mental health concerns.

Sonja Geissman

Sonja has worked in the mental health sector since 2014. She has undergone her own personal recovery journey and has found that it is uniquely individual and through her experience she knows that recovery is possible. Sonja now is able to share her experience and inspire others through her work as both a peer worker at Mind and sessional facilitator at Mind Recovery College™.

Stacy Clark

Stacy brings her own unique story of lived experience and shares her knowledge with passion asa qualified trainer and studies within mental health peerwork. Having a personal background and professionalexperience around gender diversity and transgender matters including self-belief and acceptance, she has apassion for helping others find their own level of self-awareness, belief and development.

Sue Belmore

Sue loves learning new things. Her professional life has been extremely diverse, having worked in a number of different countries and has enjoyed the challenges and diversity of many cultures she has worked alongside. Sue believes it is the fact someone believes in you and can hold the hope for you that can make the difference.

Vanessa Prentice

Vanessa is a trained life coach with over ten years experience helping individuals achieve positive change in their lives. She also has a lived experience of mental illness. She believes everyone has an 'inner coach' and enjoys teaching people how to tap into that wisdom and use life coaching and planning tools in their recovery journey.